Fionavar has that "real world kids get transported into a magical world" element which I usually dislike. I guess I'm looking for something more like Eragon. (Or rather, the books Eragon copies from.) But thanks to all for the suggestions so far. I'm also considering Lyndon Hardy's Magics series.

I want to second Patricia McKillip's Riddlemaster books: Riddlemaster of Hed, Heir of Sea and Fire, and Harpist in the Wind. I've read these several times and they never get old. Three volumes, but not long drawn out things like Thomas Covenant or other 'epics'.

Also second Lois McMaster Bujold's Chalion series: The Curse of Chalion, Paladin of Souls, and The Hallowed Hunt. Lois is a great writer, one of the best (arguably THE best living SF/Fantasy author still writing).

In honor of the passing of David Eddings it seems like The Belgariad series should be where I begin...

It seems like a good choice.

Eddings copped a little bit of flack for plagiarising himself after the follow-on series, The Malloreon. Regardless of any validity there might be in the criticism, I remember thoroughly enjoying The Belgariad. I hope you do too.

(An aside: I too was a little put off at first by the "real world kids get transported into a magical world" element of Fionavar, but memory serves me with the opinion that I quickly got past that and into a story I enjoyed. Of course, with all the options suggested by others that you might prefer, I wouldn't give too much value to this opinion o' mine. )

Funny how your brain works, the combo of you mentioning Lyndon Hardy plus Eddings death made me think of other book series I enjoyed back around the same time and I thought of one I don't think I've ever seen mentioned. And it was really good too. By Susan Dexter and it was made up of The Ring of Allaire, The Mountains of Channadran and The Sword of Calandra. Now those were excellent but I'm sure not ebook'd. But I did notice a standalone novel she did that sounds similar to what you wanted, the name is Moonlight and I see it at Fictionwise.

This is the "Jack Vance Integral Edition" (VIE). This is comprised of Vance's work with textual accuracy the way he wanted it, and with his full cooperation. This was assembled by volunteers who love Jack Vance and his work, and for what he stands for in his writings, in addition to his contribution to creative Literature.